Control station



Aug. 17, 1943. E. .1. PANISH CONTROL STATION Original Filed June 26, 1941 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 BE QM W l Q & we i w m m mJ Wm m \R E 8 9 BY 'rf ATTORNEY5 Aug. 17, 1943. E. J. PANISH CONTROL STAT ION Original Filed June 26, 1941 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEYS g- 7, 19 t u E. J. PANIISH 2,326,796

CONTROL STATION Original Filed June 26, 1941 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 ATTORNEYS Passe Aug. 17, 1943 j UNITED stares 1 2am j CONTROL srarion Y Erwin J. Parrish, BridgeporhConn.

Y Originaiapplication June 26, 1941, Serial No.

399,951. vDivided and this application June 26,. 1941, Serial No'.'399,949

18 Claims.

This invention relates to a control station for correlated remote control of a plurality of operations land the present application is a divisible part of the invention disclosed in: my copending application Serial No. 399,951, filed June 26, 1941.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a control station having a plurality. oflindependent control members so disposed as to be similarly operated with one hand, and moreparticularly, a, pair of such, members adapted for imilar or differential operation with one hand.

Another object'of the invention is to provide a remote control station havinga control mem-. ber adapted to efiect a plurality of correlated control operations, especially for efiecting a trol operation, said station also having means for limiting the scope of the first control opera: tion until the second operation is completed by separate automatic means.

- The specific embodiments-f the invention herein described is especially designed and adapted for use in marine installations .to' operate the clutch or reverse gear, and the throttle'of one or more engines driving the propeller shafts of a vessel, the complete system being described in my aforesaid copending application. How

ever, the control station of the present invention is similarly applicable for other types of installa- Features of the invention include the provision of a plurality of control members' for elfeo'ting independent control operations movable in adjacent nonintersecting paths such as, for instance,-

parallel, coaxial arcuate paths, and adapted to efiect similar control operations upon similar motion of the various members. g p The control members are so disposed so as to be grasped'by one hand for simultaneous operation or for difierential operation in pairs by twisting the hand. By provision of detent means and stop means for positioning said members and for limiting manipulation, operation with one hand for eiiecting desired variations is facilitated. a

In the preferred form of the invention wherein it is desired to limit the range'of one'control operation pending completion of another-control operation initiated by the same control member, anotherfeature is the provision of latch means for retaining the control member within the desired limits and automatic means for releasing ie said latch means uponcompletion of the initiated control operations, The said latch means is provided with automaticmeans for moving it to inoperative position. when released and is preferablyalso adapted to'be moved, when released, to inoperative position by pressure applied to the manual control member in latchopposing direction. 'Thus, if the said automatic means for moving the latch to inoperative position failsto operate for some reason, when reg leased. for operation, the control member neVertheles s maybe moved beyond the latched position upon application of in latch-opposing direction.

A preferred embodiment of the invention is Fig.2 is a partial transverse vertical cross section along the line 22 in Fig. 1, hali'of the stat being shown infront elevation.

7 Fig 3 is a view in sideelevatio-n of acontrol lever, latch and detent mechanism of the control station in one position. Fig; iris a view similar to Fig. '3 showing an-v other position of the control lever and associated mechanism. Fig, 5'is a View in front elevation of a. pair of dual. control stations showing means for control-V lingthree independentsystems.

Fig. dis a viewsimilar to Fig. 5 of one control station showing means for controlling one system.

flhe control station illustrated in the drawings is adapted to oontrola pair of independent .systems as, for instance, the respective reverse gears an d throttles of a pair of marine engines. The control station comprises an integral casing H3 having a front wall II, a rear wall 2; a curved top wall it, and flat side walls I4. The latter are provided with base flanges l5 for securing the control station to'a supporting surfacaand for securing independent portions of the control mechanism in position. i

Anope'ning is provided in the top Wall giving access to the interior of the casing and. a'removable cover I6 is secured over the opening. The

, front wall 1 l is'also provided with a rectangular aperture over Which-a cover plate ll is'secured carrying a master switch 8 for the electric'circults of each control'system and a pair of signal manual force thereto lamps 19 which are disposed behind colored glass windows 29 to provide a visible signal during the Ink which extend radially therefrom on the exteriorv of bearing plate 29, beyond the upper surface of At their upper ends, the control L levers 23 are curved inward above thecenter of.

the casing Ill.

the casing and carry a pair of inwardly projecting spherical grip handles 24 secured to the con-,' trol levers 23 by means of horizontal .pins 25" 21 and secured in position by a frictionfwasher 23 anda bolt'28a; The -hub26- carries+a radial contactor arm '29 extending upward substantially-in the same direction as-the-operatin -lever and a mechanical operator arm--30 extending'radially downward in theopposite direction; The

latter carries an integral arcuate -segment 3| extending-over the end of the hubiof" the bearing 2| and curving about the axisof'theshaft'22." A

cooperating segment '32 or stop'lug' is formedon the hub of the said bearing-so that 'motionpf the control lever 23" about its: axis is tlirnitedjby engagement of opposite ends of'the'segmentfil with the opposite sides of 'thelug .3'2. An'adjustable bolt 33' may be 'provided'atione 'end Of' 'the fixed stop lug 'for'varyin'g'on'e of "the-limiting. po-

jecting radially from the hub 26 on the shaft 22 of the operating lever carries a pair of radially spaced spring contactors 45 insulated from the sitions' of the motion of the'control 'leverif'de- V sired.

Moreover, intermediate its, ends, the segment 3|"is arcuately recessed as indicatedliat"34;' the recess being adapted to engage a roller 3F'carried by a transverse detent arm 36 secured bye pivot 31 at one end to the bearing platefiflandlurg'ed toward thesegment 3| b'y-a'tension spring 38 at its opposite end .sec uredtoa pin 39 pro ecting I Q Sleeve is joined to the end of the BowdenN-Wire 55' from the bearing plate 29'." Cooperation of'the roller 35with'the recessed segment surface forms a yieldable detent means for accuratelypositioningthe controhlever 23in a predeterminedImtermediate'position whenthe roller 35"engages the recess 34-. However, upon application .of oi erating force of'the control 1ever,'.the detent means yields to permit motion ofcthelever toward either of its limiting positions.

Each bearingplate 20"carriesI-a semicircular contact plate dil'ofinsulating material secured to'a'numberpf ribs 41. at its innersurface by means of bolts 42. Three pairsofcontacts 43, 44and45 are secured to theinsulating plate in suitable apertures provided therein and .arcuate- 1y spaced one from the other. One. member" of each of the said pairs is disposed equidistant from the axis of the shaft. 22, While-theothermembers .are similarlyidisposed. at a different radial distance therefrom. The contactorarm 29 proarm by means of bushings 41 of insulating material. A bridging member 48 of conducting material iorms a connection between the said contactors. The contactors 46 are so spaced from the axis of the shaft 22 as to be adapted to bridge tlie'respectivepairs of contacts successively upon angular motion of the control lever 23 about the axis. Preferably, the middle pair 44 of contactors is bridged when the yieldable detent means above described is'engaged, yieldably retaining the control lever 23 in the aforesaid intermediate positiong'while the other contacts 43 and 45 are an gularlyspaced an equal distance on opposite sides of the middle pair-of contacts by an angle considerably less than the angle through which the lever-23vmust be moved to reach either of its limiting positions from detent-engaging position.

A supportingframe issecured tothe base. of the control station comprising a :pair. of side. .plates dslandfa bridging plateiilflithe. former being securednto the baseflangesil51of'theside walls 14 of the casing, and the latter .to the lower extremities offthe side plates 492' i On its lower surface, the bridging plate carries a paincfterminal plates 51 of-insulating'materialafastened .to a1: pair of 'ridgesBZ adjacent the twoends of. thebridgeand carrying'anumber of threadedterrninal's' 53 secured through apertures' in the terminal plates 1. for the attach- DIBIltDf electrical conductors 53ajoining the termin'alszwithi the .windings. of's'olenoids H i and contactsASMdandlE:

A'rpairxof mechanical operators for control of a mechanical device, for instance, the throttle'of an:.internal-.:combustion engine, extends. upward through. a pair? of apertures 15d: symmetrically disposed ialong :the. axis of the'bridge 58; These operat'orsiare :ShOWIl as adapted .to. control a pair of Bowdenrwires :5 5 having sheathes. 5%. terminat ing at the said apertures? The Bowdenwire sheaths are secured respectively in'tthe apertures by'means of :antannular grsova57 adjacenttheend ofthe sheaths; 56," oppositesides of which :engage :a :pair of :bolts :58'extending; through .a pair of *perforated: ridges 59'integral with: the bridge plateZ-Efiomopposite sides :of 5 the apertures 54.

A sleeve "60 iprotrudes: from-*therend' of each of V the:Bowdenlwife"sheaths:andeis held therein by meansof aball andlsocket joint 5i so as to be mova'ble about thezcenter thereof: A rigid 0perating rod. 52' fitting tele'scopicall c into each .ing: 66 on the operator:-,arm-33 extending radially downward from the hub '26 I on the operating shaft '22' and retained in said bearing-G6 by a shoulder 6'! at one end, and-a washer ES-androtainingpinwfifi at theother;

- Thus, uponangular displacement of the'opcrating lever 23, the'Bcwdc-nwire. 55 is :moved longitudinally in its-sheath; the ball and socket joint SI and sleeve iilgpermittingfree lateral as wellas-longitudinal motion of the. rod-'62. Preferably, whenthe contact arm 29 engages'the middle pair of contacts Hand the yieldable detent 35 is engaged, the-rod 62 is 'radiallydisposed with reference -;to the hub 25 so that the Bowden wire 55 is projected to the *nit of its motion through the-sheath 56: Equa motion of the operating lever 23 to either-side :ofthis position" withdraws extent regardless of the direction'in whic the lever 23ismoved. T

At each end, each of thetwo side plates 49 is provided with a yoke to support two pairs of solenoids H, the pair carried by each side plate being coaxially aligned. Each of; the solenoids carries a loosely movable core piece or'z'trmatur e 12 projecting toward the center of the side plate 9. The inwardly projecting ends of the armathe Bowden wire 55 through its sheath to the same ture links 12a each carries a pivotal'link' 13"extending upward and-pivotally joined .to the en'd of a horizontal link M which is securedby a pivot f 16 at its opposite end to a portion of the side plate 49 adjacent the opposite coaligned' solenoid. The movable orilinked end of the horizontal link 14 is provided with a projection 15 adapted to extend into the path ofthe lower end-of the radial operating arm'30 projecting downward from the hub 25, said projectionslE acting as latches or stop means for arresting motion of the control lever 23 toward either limiting position.

The latches of opposite coaligned armatures are preferably disposed to arrest the motion of the control lever'at equal distances from the midposition in which the yieldable detent is engaged,

tion of the solenoid 1i; and to .be lowered upon motion of the armature l2 outward from the sole noid H rendering the latch inoperative. A tension spring i1 joining the, ends of the coaligned armature normally tends to bias the latch to inoperative position.

A third link 18 is pivotally secured to bossil9" .near, the lower edge of the side plate 49 and is also pivotally attached near its upper endto the endoi the armaturelink 12a. The link .18 'car-' ries a projection 80 having a stop means shown as a pin 8! projecting into the path of thelink '13 for engagingthe side thereof. Engagement of the said pin with the side of the link I3 limits retracting motion of the armature 12'into the solenoid H.

as to make an angle slightly less than a straight angleso that upon application of adownward forceon the end of the latch link 14- the two links I3 and 18 will collapse in latch-releasing, arma j ture projecting direction.

The end of the operating lever 38, which :is engaged by the latch, is. provided with cam surfaces 82 adapted to apply'latch-depressing force to releasethe latch is insufiicient, but when thesolenoid is deenergized, cam 82' is adapted'to depress the latch '54 and withdraw the armature.

from the solenoid by virtue rof the above-described link arrangement, regardless of the latchreleasing effect of the springli. Thus, if the spring should break or fail to operate when the solenoid is deenergized, the latch is still adapted .to release the control lever 23, the release merely requiring a slight additional manual efiort on the part of the operator. j

Both; coaligned solenoids H are normallyenergized, rendering the latches operative to limit.

When the said'lirniting position is reached, the two links 73 and 18 are so arrangedcontacts 43 oron opposite' sides of the middle pair 44 are bridgedi Upon motion-0f the-control lever 23 in either direction from detent engaging position to latch-engaging position, the electrically connected'contactors 46 of 5 the contactor arm '29 are adapted by bridging contacts 43 or 65 respectively, to-clo'se a pair of circuits" to initiate'direc'tion controloperations, such as the operation of the reverse-gear-actuating fmech'anisrn to move the reverse gear .to one or the other of its engaged positions from neutral position. Upon completion of either of the said direction control operations, automatic switch: means, "operated'by said actuating mechanism opens the'ci'rcuitof the solenoid H controllingthe engaged latch I5, releasing the latch and permitting further motionof the control lever 25 toward itslimi'ting position.- Preferably, the I operation otthe mechanism also renders the initiating circuit, originally closed by contactors 46, inoperative as long as the reverse gear continues engaged. Thus, during this" period-,jthe

operatinglever 23 is free to 'move over theenti-re range between the neutral position and the limiting position without affecting the reverse gear-'" actuating mechanism by repeated bridging of contacts, 43 or 45.

Upon returning the operating lever'23 to the middle or detent=engaging position, a circuit is closed by bridging'of the middle p'air'off contacts f M, causing the reverse gear-actuating mecha nism'to disengage the reverse gear. During dis'-" engagementthe automatic switch means {of actuating mechanism again closes the energize ing circuit of thedeenergizecl solenoid -'H I and resets the inoperative latch to operative condivtion. 4O

. reverse gear is engaged for operation in one di .While onelatch is inoperative aslong as the rection, the opposite latch still remains'oper ative. Thus if it is desired to engage the reverse gear. or otherfmechanism for. opposite directional engagement by motion of the control lever 23to the opposite latch-engaging, circuit' -closing position, the second latch 15 is operative toprevent further motion of the controllever Z3 toward the oppositelimiting position. The inoperative or releasedlatch .75 is reset during motion oi'the reverse gear to disengaged or,neutrahposition,

while the second latch 15 is released by automatic circuit control means of the reverse gear-actuating mechanism 'uponfoompletion of reverse gear operation toropposite engagen eint in the manner hGIElIlbQfOl'Q' described.

As stated above, the Bowden wire secured to' eachcontrol lever is adapted to efiect a quantitative control, such asthe control of the throttle.

tion, the throttle is preferably, set for idling speed,. and the throttlesetting is progressively increased upon motion of the op'erati-nglever toward either limiting position. i i j L The latch-engaging, circuiteclosing positions in which the operating lever 23 is adapted to ini-q tiate-engagement of the reverse gear on opposite. I sides of the midpositionare preferably spaced from the midpo'sition: so that the correspondingthrottle settings are not: materially advanced, whereby the engine operates at 'moderateoperating speed suitable forengagement of the re verse gear. 1 Engagement at higher engine speeds u 31 motion of the condor lever 23 in either direction, at. positions in which one orthe other pair: of

lurchlng ofrthe vessel-.-

Since the-reverseigeartisdisengaged by moving the: control-.leverfli toymidpositiondisengage-- mentioccursysubstantially --atthrottle setting for idling ispeed, gavoiding possibie damage by racing Of-gthCI engineupon disengagement of rtheireverse gean: Motionofjthe, control .-lever-23-=from one to thei'otherr reversegear-engaging position islim ited byvthe opposite 1atCh 15SQl-thatthe-throttle. cannotbe .advanced materially beyond adjustmention-a moderate operating speed until after the' --reverse geari is engaged,- thus avoiding. all

possibility of damage during the. reversing operatlomto theengine or propeller shaft.

since itisusually not desired-,iwhen thefreverse gearisiengaged for astern. operation of the vessel; to-operate theengine attfull speed, 'the stop means comprising the lug. on the hub-2la of the:-bearing,;2I"-is adapted to cooperate with the end: of. the arcuatesegment 3|. carried bythe downwardly projectingqoperating arm 30, tolimit maximumgdisplacement. of the control .lever 23' reasonable timeinterval after operating the control-lever 23: to initiate-a reverse gear operation. indicates that the reverse gear-actuating mecha nism has not completed its Operation and that its motor-is.stalledacross-the line. If the lamp I9 fails to-illuminate at all, itindicateslthat some- I thing is w-rongwith the electric system. Failure of the actuating mechanism to complete a desired reverse gearv operation may be due to various causes, for instance, excessive discharge ofv the ating mechanism. Thus, the operator, at the controlstation is informedat all times whether or not, the, .devices controlledthereby are operating p p rly. 7

Tl'iemaster switch l8 is-adaptedtorender all ofthe circuits .of the. corresponding control lever' 23, includingthe reversegear control circuits, the.

latchqsolenoidcircuits, and the signal light circuit, operative or inoperative atwill. When'it is moved. to open-circuit position,v the operating lever 21 is adapted ,to, control only the throttleio f the engine and is movable over its entire range since the latches 15;are releasedby,deenergization of the solenoids .1 I Thus, if itbecomes necessary intan .emergencyto operate the reverse gear by auxiliary means, for instanceby hand, the control lever 23 may remain operative to control the throttleover its entire range, while the reverse gearis operated independentl'y. j V

Simultaneous manipulation of the two operatinglevers by one hand which is made possible by virtue of their disposition so as to move in adjacent"paralle1 coextensive arcuate paths, and to perform similar controls by similar movementis especially advantageous in marine construction. By virtue thereof, it makes possible'the control ofthereverse gears and throttles of bothengines with onehand, while the other hand of the operator is free, for instance, to operate a steering device whenpboth control'levers are similarly operated,;the-yieldable detent at neutral position facilitates positioningof the members in throttleidlingy; reverse 1 gear-disengaging; DOSitiOXIJT The such an arrangement is not especially adapted' for' 2,32-.6;'Z9Q1- 7 wwld:tend-.to:shear the p lle lfiih 81150 solenoid+controlled latches HIifaciIitate-simul- I a taneouspositioningsof'the.operating;levers 23for smooth engagement of both reverse gears, without materially advancing: the throttle ofzeitherengine 1 duringreverse gear-engagement, forfionerating' thevesseleither ahead or astern. "Further, dur+ ing engagement of the reverse-gears for operation of both propellers in. the same direction, the throttlesettings of: the two engines may. be differentially advanced or retarded for maneuvering thevessel togdrive one-propeller faster than the other by gripping ,bothcontrol levers and twisting the hand for'imparting differential motion there'- In-maneuvering;.where it is desired .to operate twin propellersof' a vessel in opposite directions, the control levers '23; may be gripped'with one hand when in detent-engaging: or. neutral position, andmoved to opposite latch-engaging posi- I tions withrgreatiease by twisting the hand. The latches assureaccurate positioning. of the'tw'o control lovers in reversegear. engaging reduced throttle-positions. Thetwo levers 23'1'nay both be returned to neutral in the same manner,'the detent means accurately positioning the said levers for neutral.

If more than .two mechanisms, suchas-two engines with reverse gears are to be controlled, for instance, threeor four engines, two ofthe dual control stations hereinbefore described may be employed, mounted side by side as shown in Fig. 5. If three engines are to be controlled; the adjacentcontrol levers'23a of the pair of juxtaposed stations respectively may be joined by a rigid grip bar 84'50 that both are movedtogether. One of the joined control levers is a dummy," theother beingoperable to control the throttle and reverse gear of the central'engine The opposite or outer control levers 23b of each station respectively operate: the portandstarboard engines." While differential operation of all the controlsby one hand, the joined levers 23a and one or the other of the outer levers 231) may be differentially operated in the said manner, the. other being operated by. the other hand. Moreovenall'of'the levers maybe simultaneously and similarly moved to either engaged position, or back to neutralpositionby one manipulation, either with one hand or with the forearm.

As shown in Fig. 6* when only one mechanism, for instance an engine; is to be'controlled, the

same casingmay be used and the two levers.

joined by a bar 84w carrying-a grip handle. Again, one of the levers would be a dummy, the other lever operating themechanism as above described.

Variations and modifications may be made within the scope of this invention and portions of the improvementsmay be used'without others.

I claim: 7 j l.-In"a manual control device, a manually operable means movable along a'predetermined path from a'given starting position through a range of control positions to effect a plurality of controlled operations, movement of said member to a'predetermined control position initiating atleast one of said controlled' operations and further movement of said member beyond said control position efiecting another of said operations; and releasable electromagnetic stop means for arresting said member upon movement from said starting position against further motion in the same direction at said predetermined control position, said: electromagnetic stop-means being releasable to permit iurthermotion of said memJ-z ber upon completion of at least a part ofqthe' first-named operation. f1

2. In a manual control device; a manually" operable means movable along a predetermined path from a given starting position through a range of control positionsto efiecta plurality of control operations; electric circuit control means rendered operative upon movement of said memher from said starting position to a predetermined control position for initiating'at least one of said controlled operations, and-alternate circuitv control means rendered operative upon return of said member. to the starting position, to initiate the reverse of said controlled operation; movement of said member through a range. extending beyond said predetermined control position, efiecting another of said controlled operations, the latter being reversed by return :movement of said member toward said startingposition; and releasable stop means forrte'm'porarily arresting said member against further motion in the same direction at said predetermined 6on trol position upon movement from the starting position, said stop means being releasable to pen mit further motion of said member upon completion of at least a part or the first-named operation and resettable during. the re'verse' of said operation. v f. v 3. In a control devicai means; for effecting a quantity control; means for effecting .a direction both oi said control means, movablebetween prg, determined limits through an intermediate neutral position andapair of intermediate control positions on oppositesides of saidneue tral position movement of said actuatingmeans from said neutral position-toward either limiting position operating said quantity .control means to effect equivalent progressive variations oi 7 quantity and return movement-of said actuating for alternate directionaladjustmentrespectiveiy,

upon movement of said manual memberitosaid".

respective; control positions, and, for initiating a control operation for neutralor inoperativeadjustment upon movement of said manual-mem berto neutral position; and releasable electro;

magnetic stop means for arresting movement of said manual actuating member temporarily from neutral towardeitherof said limiting positions,-

in both of said control positions said electromag-. -netic stop meansbeing'r'eleasable one'at a time to permitfurthermovementof said manual actu ating mean toward the adjacent limiting posi-" tion uponcon'ipletion of at least a part 'oi the direction control operation initiated'in' one of the control positions andresettable during the reverse directioncontrol' operation initiated bymotion oi said member tojneutral position or'to theppposite control'po sition l, r 5. In 'a control device, means for effecting" a quantity control; means" for effecting "a direction control; common manual actuating meansioi;

control; selective circuit-closing means for in: tiating operation of said direction controlsmeans; common manual actuating means for said *co'ntrol means, movable between predetermined limits through an intermediate neutral position, and a pairoi intermediate control positionsflj-on opposite sides of sai'djneutral positiomsaid quan tity control meansfefiecti'ng equivalent progres f sive variationsof the quantity upon movernentof said actuatingi'mean fromsaid neutral'position toward ieither. 'liinitir1g osition-and conuerse variations upon movementfthereoiu toward said, I neutral position; said jselective' circuit-f-clos'ing.

means completing circuits 1:515 initiating alternate diiec'tion 'control voi'ierations of said'direcfl tion control means upon said "ma'riual Jmen bei reaching opposite control, positions: respectively,

and completinga circuitforfinitiating"converse l control operations of the" direction c'ontrol'means i forv neutral or inoprative adjustment, upon reaching said neutralposition; and a' pair of ;re1easable stop means operative tqprevenrjmove l ment oisaidrnanually actuating member beyond either'of said control positions, said-stop means being releasable; one at a time to permit moveeither of said control positions, said stop means j being. releasable to permitiurther; movement of said manual actuating meanstoward its adjacent limiting position upon completion of atj'least a .partof the direction control operation initiated in h nt iQii ni n ine to s d: ste

means. I

4. In a control device, means e i f ectingia quan c t l; n si e ect ne a d rect n control; common manual actuating means i r.

both of said control means, movable betweenprede mi li i t ou h n interme teneutral position, and a pair of intermediate; control 7 po i i n n o sid i lsa d' u ralino ition, mov n ils c uat .mea sh rom s neutral po i n t d e ther l m t n -resimo era in aid; ,q ni i ;.;c 2 0 meansgt efiect equivalent progressive yariation s of the uant y nd retu nmoveme -afra d: ctua n me r corr p din y f e in cenversequanto the opposite control position. 6,111 acontrol device, means 'sition and apair ofintermediate control posit ment of said men berrbeyond the control position Itoward the adjacent: limiting position upon come {pletion of at leasta-part oi the direction control operationinitiated in said control position, and V zresettableduring the converse control operation f of said direction control meansinitiated by mo tion of said manual member toneutralposition or quantity control; -,rneans' for effecting a direction control; common manual actuatingl means for both of said controls, movable between, p'rece' rf mined limits through anintermediate neutrai 0- on QDDOSltQfSidES oi said; neutral position, movejment of said actuatingmeans from said neutral position toward;either limitingposition operating; 'said quantity controlfmeansto efifect'equivalent l es iv vv r a o I19 .lquan ity i df .movement of said actuating means towar nautral position operating said onantity control me ans to l effect converse quantity variations jgmeansfonselectively initiating a pair of galternategjdir ection contr'ol opera'tionsiof said direction control means upon novement oi said manua member to s aid pa r of. r eiive c n ro p it n lan iitiating operation of said direction. eaimsm tity variations; ,means for selectively initiating control operations of said, direction control means for :efrecting v to neutral or inoperative condition upon movement of said manual membertofneutralposition from either of .said'contr'ol positions; releasablev stop means: for temporarily arresting movement of said manual actuating memberfrom neutral toward. either of saidilimiting positions'upon reaching either of said control positions; and; yieldable detent means for positioning said main ual actuating meansinneutral position. 7. In a control device, a manual control memher movable between a starting position and a limiting position for effecting a plurality of con trol operations one operation being'initiated said member reaching an intermediate" control position and the reverse operation being initiated upon saidmei'nber reaching starting position, and another operationbeing efiectedby movement of theimember between starting position and the limitin gjfpositicn; and electromagnetic latch means normally preventing motion of said mem' ber beyond said control position toward'said limitinpdsition; said latchv means being releasable; upon completiori'oi at leasta part of saidfirst-J named operation and resettable during the converse operation. t

8. In a control station, "a 'pivotally mounted intermediat position; stop means on opposite sides of said intermediate position for limiting movement of said members away from said'intermediate position, said grip members bcingjuxtaposed so as to be simultaneouslygrippedwithone hand formoving them conjugately to effect iden i tical control operations of the two devices, said detent means and said stop means serving there-- by to position the 'membersrespectively in inter" mediate position and in said stop positions,- and for moving said grip members diiierently to oi foot differential control operations of the two'jdevices by atwi'sting motion of the'hand, said stop means serving thereby'to arrest the grip members in'opposite stop positions upon differential movement away from each other, and said do tent means positioning the two members inin termediate position upon differential movement toward said position." s

12,'In a controlstation, dual independent controlmeans for 'effecting'a plurality of control operations upon a pair ofindependent devices;

7 a pair'of manual grip members movable inadcontrol lever movablebetweena pair of limiting- 7 positions through an intermediate position; a

pair of spacedlatch means for intercepting movement of said lever from inteimediateposition toward said limitingpositicnsrespectively; a pair or spacedcoaligned "solenoids disposed adjacent said respective latchmeans; an armature in each solenoid; alinkage connecting each armature to saidlatch members respectively, the armatures moving apart upon energiaationof the solenoids and thereby moving said lat oh means tocpe'rative position; and a tension spring joining the two arm'atures fo1' urging them together 'to release said latches'respectively upon deen'ergizati'on of the-corresponding solenoids. I

In 'a control device, a control lever'mounted for limited pivotal motion about a fixed axis; a linearly movable mechanical control member; a

link having oneend pivotally secured to said control lever at'a point eccentric to saidaxis and secured at its other end to said-linearly movable control member; fixed pivoted guide means slidably engaging said link adj acent'the-latter end thereof, whereby pivotal movement of said -'con-'* trol lever imparts linear movement to saidcori trol member; switchmeans for effecting an electric control; and means on said lever for operating said switch means ata given point in the movement of said control lever; Y

- 10. In a control device, a manually "operated lever movable toward a limiting position, latch means for intercepting and arresting movement of said member to' saidlimiting position; releasable means for retaining said latch inoperative position; resilient means" for releasing said latch upon release of said retaining means; and alternate means on said manual operating lever for releasing said latch in response to a force tending to movesaid lever toward the limiting position when said retaining meansis released.

11. In a control station, dual independentcontrol means for' 'efiecting aplurality of control operations mm a pair of independent devices a pair of manualgripmembers movable in adjacent nonintersectingpath ior'operating said control means respectively}conjugate motion of said -members efiecting similar control{ operations of said dual control means}; yieldable detent means for positioning said members conju'gatedly in an iacent nonintersecting paths between a pair of limiting positions, through an intermediate position, for operating said control means respectively, conjugate motion of said members effecting similar control operations'of said dual "control means; and stop means on opposite-sides of said intermediate position for limiting movement of the two devices, said stop means serving thereby'to position the members in stop positions, and

for moving said grip members differentially to efiect differential control operations Of the-twodevices by a; twisting motion of thehand, said stop means serving therebyto arrest the grip members in opposite stop positions; release of i said stop means permitting further movement of said grip members toward their respective limitingpositions. 7

13. In a control device, a pivotally'moi'm'ted control lever movable between a paif'o'f limiting positions; a-pair of spaced; latch means for intercepting movement of said lever toward said limitl ng positions respectively; a pair of spacethsubsta-ntially coaligned; latch-operating members, movable between limits along acommon path, motion of each of said membersto its limit ad'- jacent the other member. releasing one of said latchesyand; to its limiting position remote mm the other i member rendering said latch again operative; releasable means for retaining said members in latching positions; and yieldable" tension means joining said members for moving them to latch-releasing position upon release or said retaining means; I v

14. In a-control device, a pivotally mounted control lever movable between limiting positions;

a'pairof spaced latch'means forintercepting and limiting positionsrespectivelyfa pair of substantially coaligried 'spaced membersmovable'between limits along a commonpa'th motion of each of-sald members to its limit: adjacent the other memberreleasingone 'ofsaid latches, and

to its limiting pos'ition' *rem'oteiromthe "other member rendering said latch 'again operative; a

pair of alternately releasable means for "retaining said members in latching positions; and a cam on said lever cooperating with cam surfaces on said latches to release a latch engaged thereby in response to manual force in latch-opposing direction, upon release of the correspondfrom said radial extension; a latch operator,

linearly movable in a path lying in the plane of motion of said latch member; a link pivotally secured at one end to said latch member adjacent said projection, and at the other end to said latch operator, said link formingan acute angle with the path of motion of the latter, and also with the line joining the supporting pivot of the latch member with the link pivot thereof, when the latch member is positionedto engage said radial extension; and a cam surface on the end of said extension for exerting a forc in latch-releasing direction upon said projection when a force in latch-opposing direction is applied to said control member, a component of said force being transmitted by said link to said latch operator in the direction of motion of the latter to release the latch.

' 16. In a device of the type described, a pivotally mounted control member having a radial extension movable over a predetermined angular jection being withdrawn from said path to release said member upon pivotal movement'of the latch member away from the radial extension; a latch operator linearly movable in a path lying in theplane of said latch member; a pair of links, eachhaving oneend secured to said latch operator at being supported at a 'fixedpivot, andfth'e opposite end of the other link being pivotally secured to said latch member adjacent I said projection, said links forming less than a straight angle when the latch'member is in extension-engaging posi-- tion, collapse of said links at their common vpoint withdrawing said latch member and moving said latch operator along'its linear path; stop means integral withone of said links and engaging the other link to limit the maximum angle between the links to less than a straight angle; and a cam surface on said radial extension, cooperat- 7 ing with said projection to transmit a component of force applied to the controlmember in latch-,

opposing direction to said links, said component force tending to collapse, the two links and move range; a latch member pivotally supported at said latch operator in latch-releasing direction. V

17. In a control system, a single control member for reflecting a plurality ofseparate control operations; means, for temporarily limiting the 'controlrange of said member for cer-tainof said operations according to the, status of another ofsaid operations; and common means for rendering said limiting means inoperative, andsaid control member inoperative to control the lastnamed operation, whereby said control member remains effective to control the other'operations comprising a housing; a pair of pivotally mounted control levers on opposite sidesof each control station housing, all of said control levers pivot i ing about a common axis; a pair of grip members on' each ofs aid control levers, the grip members a on each control station being disposed injuxtaposition soas to be grasped with one hand for conjugate movement, or by a twisting movement control stations for moving the control levers associated with said grip members in a similar manner; and a grip .memberintermediate the endsofsaidban s ERWIN JQPANISHQ a common pivot, theiopposit'e' end of one link '7 

